Lancaster County sheriff’s attorney was innocent bystander when shot in arm, SLED says
The staff lawyer and public information officer at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office shot Wednesday night was an innocent bystander when he was hit by gunshots, officials said.
Doug Barfield told The Herald he was shot in the arm but is recovering.
The State Law Enforcement Division has charged Tyrone Lamar Gilford, 23, of Kershaw, with two counts of attempted murder, according to a SLED statement and arrest warrants. Kershaw, in southern Lancaster County, has a population of around 2,000 people.
Barfield was driving his truck around 8 p.m. Wednesday on North Matson Street in Kershaw when he was shot, according to a SLED statement. Barfield pulled into a parking lot of a store after being wounded, according to SLED.
Barfield was not working at the time, Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile said.
Gilford fired the shots during a foot chase of another person that SLED has not named, according to SLED documents.
“It is a scary feeling knowing one of your own has been hurt and we are extremely grateful that Doug’s injuries are not life threatening,” Faile said. “We are thankful for all the other law enforcement agencies and first responder services that came to assist. Both the agency and the Barfield family are appreciative of everyone who has reached out to offer their thoughts and prayers.”
The sheriff’s office requested SLED to handle the investigation, SLED spokesperson Renee Wunderlich said.
Before going to work at the sheriff’s office, Barfield was a prosecutor for 30 years at the 6th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which handles criminal cases in Lancaster, Chester, and Fairfield counties. He was the top prosecutor in the three counties from 2006 until 2015.
Gilford remains in the Lancaster County Detention Center without bail, jail records show.
This story was originally published May 30, 2024 at 11:38 AM.
